Lovely childcare

Perfect for Sports Day! Obstacle Course Ideas Recommended for 2-Year-Olds

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

Here are some of the most popular parent-child events for two-year-olds at nursery and kindergarten sports days.

Participating together with their beloved parents makes for fun, unforgettable moments for the children! There are plenty of activities with cute, familiar themes like sushi, ice cream, and vegetables.

From being carried in arms to piggyback rides, every event values parent-child bonding and is sure to bring smiles to everyone.

All activities are designed with safety in mind, so feel free to choose ones that suit your child’s stage of development.

Parent-child activities (1–10)

Let’s find a home

Kasama Tomobe Tomobe Kindergarten Childcare Information: “Sports Day Series – Nursery (Year 1) – Individual Events”

Let's find a home

This event is themed around Anpanman, a character beloved by children.

During the race, have the kids wear baker hats.

At the starting signal, they run and pick up a character-themed bread placed along the course.

Once they have a firm grip so they don’t drop it, they run to the house at the finish line.

Each house shows which character it belongs to, so have them check carefully and place the bread in the correct house.

Besides Anpanman, this activity can be adapted to many other themes for even more fun.

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Go! Go! Go! by Shinkansen!

FY2024 Kirara-en Sports Day Parent–Child Event for 0-, 1-, and 2-Year-Olds

Go! Go! Go! by Shinkansen!

Recommended for classes that love vehicles! Here are ideas for Shinkansen GO! GO! GO! Many children are likely interested in bullet trains and working vehicles.

How about planning events centered on the Shinkansen this time? Start at a gate where you tap a card.

Seat the child in a cardboard Shinkansen and have their guardian run while pulling or pushing it.

After passing through a “waterfall” made of plastic tape streamers, they receive a souvenir and head to the goal.

If you package the souvenir like a station bento (ekiben), it will add to the excitement.

Give it a try!

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Shopping by car

(Age 2) Sports Day, Part 3

Shopping by car

Many two-year-olds love riding tricycles and foot-to-floor cars.

With that in mind, here’s a parent–child event called “Shopping by Car,” where kids can ride a vehicle and go shopping.

Have the children sit on toy cars and line up at the starting position.

At the starting signal, they’ll head toward the basket where their parent or guardian is waiting.

Once they meet up, the child gets off the car, holds hands with their parent, and goes shopping together.

There are various items like fruit, fish, and bread—pick your favorites, put them in the basket, and return to the starting line.

Why not add this fun event that combines a drive and shopping to your sports day?

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Parent-Child Activities (11–20)

My First Errand

Experience thrills and excitement! Here are some ideas for a child’s first errand.

How about trying a parent-child activity where guardians also take part, and the child tackles their first errand? Many children may feel nervous in a setting different from their usual daycare or kindergarten, but having their guardian with them might give them courage.

Watching them head out to pick up the ingredients requested by their guardian will likely bring both laughter and tears.

It’s sure to be an event where you can feel the child’s growth and the bond between child and guardian.

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Family Space Travel

Sports Day Explainer Video No. 10: Junior Class Parent-Child Event “Family Space Trip” – Event Explanation

Family Space Travel

Let me introduce an exciting event packed with thrills: a family space-travel race.

First, a child and their guardian ride on the rocket, with one in front and one in back.

Ride the rocket and run to the sword placed ahead! Once you get the sword, defeat the evil alien waiting further on.

After defeating the alien, put down the sword, take the treasure from the treasure chest, and head to the goal—those are the rules.

It’s a very unique event that will delight kids who love space and adventure.

Working together as parent and child will surely become a wonderful memory.

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I caught a fish.

Nursery school sports day: parent-child event

I caught a fish.

Many kids love pretend fishing, right? So why not include a fish-themed parent–child event in your sports day? The child holds an inner tube and the parent holds a bucket, then at the starting signal they run to the blue tarp.

Lots of fish are “swimming” on the tarp, so the child catches a fish that matches the color of their inner tube and puts it in the bucket.

Run carefully so you don’t drop the fish, then place it into the box of the same color as the fish.

After that, return to the start and pass the baton to the next pair! Since the inner tube and bucket serve as the baton, be sure to hand them over securely.

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Fun Parent-Child Circuit

@fujikidstok
Happy time with parent and child ☺️ The children look so happy ☺️Family Parent and child Parent-child competition Sports Day
Original song – kids fun world – kids fun world

Like a little adventure! Here are some fun parent–child circuit ideas.

It’s great when the events let guardians see moments of their children’s growth.

This time, let’s try a jam-packed circuit that blends elements of exercise and recreation.

With activities like piggyback rides, balance beams, and “Acchi Muite Hoi,” it’s sure to be full of smiles from both guardians and kids! If teachers join in too, it could help deepen trust even further.

Definitely give it a try.

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